Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
VICE-PRESIDENT, Dr Constantino Chiwenga, has expressed his admiration for the significant progress made on the Palm River Special Economic Zone (SEZ) project, with over $200 million invested so far.
He said the progress on the Palm River Special Economic Zone is a testament to the Government’s efforts to create a conducive business environment and attract fresh investments.
VP Chiwenga, who visited Beitbridge last Thursday, also assessed progress at the new $30 million Orange Ville Citrus project, multi-million Nottingham Estate Citrus project, and the Palm River projects, which promise to be game-changers for the region and the country’s economy.
The Palm River SEZ project, whose groundbreaking ceremony was presided over by President Mnangagwa early this year, includes a thermal power station, a chrome smelting plant, and a coal coking plant, among other segments.
The investment is expected to drive infrastructure development, rural industrialisation, and agricultural reform, ultimately contributing to the growth of Zimbabwe’s economy.
“We are happy with the progress that we have seen. There are great improvements from what we have seen compared to what we saw during the groundbreaking ceremony when we came with His Excellency President Mnangagwa,” said VP Chiwenga.
“Most of the major components of this project are now operating in full swing, such as the ferrochrome plant, the coking coal plant, and the thermal power station, among others.
“Now they have a laboratory here working in full operation where they are testing all the chemicals. We have also seen great progress in their coking coal plant. We are impressed and this is what we want to see.”
VP Chiwenga said the company has taken seriously the issues of skills transfer to Zimbabweans and those from the local communities.
He said a lot of students from local high schools, including girls, had been given an opportunity to learn more technical skills in the laboratories and other facilities at the SEZ project.
VP President emphasised the need to fully invest in a robust skills transfer programme to local Zimbabweans.
“This model can help us build improved people-to-people relationships in our two countries, Zimbabwe and the People’s Republic of China. It’s impressive that we have seen more young women who are learning a lot of technical skills at this project,” he said.
Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Engineer Caleb Makwiranzou, said the company has, in the last two years, invested US$237 million in the Beitbridge project.
He said the company was set to invest a total of $3,6 billion into the Palm River SEZ project over 12 years.
The Deputy Minister said a total of 800 Zimbabweans, mostly from the Beitbridge community, have been hired on a full-time basis to do various jobs.
“This is an impressive investment that has employed more than 800 Zimbabweans and we understand that they intend to hire close to 10 000 people over 12 years.
“This is a game changer for us as Matabeleland South in growing our gross domestic product (GDP),” Matabeleland South Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Albert Nguluvhe, said.
“You’ll note that the coming in of this project has revived mining activities in our area and it has a lot of downstream benefits on local communities and businesses.
“In addition, they intend to revive the rail system in Beitbridge and help in the construction of more schools and primary health care facilities in this district. At the same time, we have emphasised that the bulk of the general staff should be engaged from the Beitbridge community.”
VP Chiwenga’s visit was aimed at assessing the implementation of high-impact projects in the province, including the Gwanda Lithium mine and the Tuli Manyange Dam project.
During the tour, he also emphasized the importance of water projects in supporting development, particularly in the agriculture and mining sectors.
